ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Colorado Avalanche welcomed two players back for Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild, but two critical players are out of the linuep.
Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski are both out with upper-body injuries, the team announced as warmups began. Josh Manson and Joel Kiviranta both returned from injuries.
Lehkonen has three goals and six points in seven playoff games for the Avs. Malinski has a goal and three points, and has logged 19:59 of ice time.
Mackenzie Blackwood is also making his first start of this tournament after replacing Scott Wedgewood in Game 3. Jack Ahcan is also making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, replacing Nick Blankenburg in the Colorado lineup.
No. 1 center Joel Eriksson Ek and key defenseman Jonas Brodin are still out of the lineup for the Wild. Neither has played in this series.
Here is Colorado’s lineup to start Game 4:
Gabe Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy
Valeri Nichushkin – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Brett Kulak – Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan – Josh Manson
Mackenzie Blackwood
